Multi-purpose exercise device with synchronized sliding

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a multi-purpose exercise device with synchronized sliding. It comprises a base and a pair of tracks disposed on it. Two slides including rollers are engaged on the same tracks. The rollers of the slides are engaged in the grooves of the tracks. Furthermore, the two slides are connected by resilient members, and each of the slides are coupled to three poles arranged in the shape of a triangle and at least two of said poles are pivotally mounted on pulley. Each of the elastic bands are engaged over the pulleys of the poles of each slide, allowing the two slides to be moved simultaneously from one end of the tracks to the other and providing more flexible exercise functions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a multi-purpose exercise device with synchronized sliding, and more particularly to an exercise device with two slides freely slidable along the same tracks from one end to the other. Furthermore, the two slides are connected by elastic bands and each of the slides includes three poles arranged in the shape of a triangle. The elastic bands are engaged over at least two poles of each slide, providing more flexible and interesting sliding exercises.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] A typical exercise device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,750,549 to Thomson et al., and includes a seat slidable along a track section. The device is not suitable for practicing leg stretching.

[0005] Another typical exercise device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,530 to Cosby and includes a carriage slidable along a supporting frame. The device is not suitable for practicing body stretching. Furthermore, an additional chair is required for practicing muscle groups of the legs.

[0006] Still another typical exercise device is disclosed in U.K. Pat. No. 2,120,110 to Torii and includes a pair of foot boards movable away from each other against the springs. However, the moving distance of the foot boards is limited by the springs such that the legs of the user can not be fully stretched.

[0007] One more exercise device, the antecedent of the present invention, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,935 to Wang. It includes a pair of slides engaged on tracks and oppositely disposed beside a seat. The device has the following two disadvantages:

[0008] 1. Sliding modes are very limited such that little variety of exercises are provided, due to each of the slides being moved along the tracks on just one side of the seat.

[0009] 2. The device is of high cost and hard to assemble or maintain, due to its multiple members with each of the slides being coupled to a spring and a plurality of elastic bands.

[0010] Moreover, on the market there may be an exercise device including two slides engaged on tracks and connected by elastic bands. The elastic bands of such a conventional exercise device have each end directly fixed to each of the slides without being specially extended for engagement. Thus in operating the conventional exercise device, the two slides could not be joined together due to the elastic bands in between. Furthermore, in the conventional exercise device, to prevent the elastic bands from being too long so as to become an obstruction, they are designed to be very short such that the stretching distance is limited and consequently the user could not practice major stretching movements (such as the legs being fully stretched).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an exercise device comprising two slides freely slidable along the same tracks from one end to the other. Furthermore, the two slides are connected by elastic bands and each of the slides includes three poles arranged in the shape of a triangle. The elastic bands are engaged over at least two poles of each slide, providing more flexible and interesting sliding exercises.

[0012] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an exercise device is provided comprising a base and two slides engaged on the same tracks. The two slides are connected by elastic bands and each of the slides includes three poles arranged in the shape of a triangle. The elastic bands are engaged over at least two poles of each slide. The two slides are coupled to rollers engaged in the grooves of the tracks such that the two slides can simultaneously be moved from one end of the tracks to the other.

[0013] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein below, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled exercise device in accordance with the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the exercise device;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a top view of the exercise device;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the slides and the base;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the base and pins;

[0019]FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the sliding operations of the exercise device;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the fixing of one slide;

[0021]FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the fixing of the other slide;

[0022]FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the coupling of the resilient members;

[0023]FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an operation of the exercise device;

[0024]FIG. 11 is a view illustrating another operation of the exercise device; and

[0025]FIG. 12 is a view illustrating the coupling of a handle bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 to 5, an exercise device in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 11 and tracks 10 disposed on the base 11. The tracks 10 includes a groove 12 and two slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b are engaged on the tracks 10. The two slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b are connected by elastic bands 34 and each of the slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b includes three poles 33 a{grave over ()}33 b arranged in the shape of a triangle, and at least two of said poles are pivotally mounted on pulley 35 a{grave over ()}35 b. The elastic bands 34 are engaged over the pulleys 35 a{grave over ()}35 b of the poles 33 a{grave over ()}33 b of each slide 20 a{grave over ()}20 b. The two slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b each includes rollers 21. The rollers 21 of the slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b are engaged in the grooves 12 of the tracks 10. The user can manipulate the two slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b more flexibly and slide freely on the tracks 10 such that better exercise functions are formed.

[0027] As best shown in FIG. 1, in coupling the invention, a pair of parallel tracks 10 can be disposed on a base 11. Each track 10 includes a groove 12 and the slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b each includes two rollers 21 on both sides. The rollers 21 on each side of the slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b are engaged in the groove 12 of a track 10.

[0028] As best shown in FIG. 9, in coupling the invention, the resilient members include two elastic bands 30 a{grave over ()}30 b. Each elastic band 30 a{grave over ()}30 b are fixed to a hooking ring 31 a{grave over ()}31 b at both ends. Two poles 33 a{grave over ()}33 b of each slide 20 a{grave over ()}20 b are coupled to pulleys 32 a{grave over ()}32 b. The hooking ring 31 a{grave over ()}31 b at both ends of each elastic band 30 a{grave over ()}30 b is engaged on the poles 33 a{grave over ()}33 b of a slide 20 a{grave over ()}20 b. Each elastic band 30 a{grave over ()}30 b is engaged over one pulley 32 a{grave over ()}32 b of each slide 20 a{grave over ()}20 b such that the two elastic bands 30 a{grave over ()}30 b provide synchronized resilience between the two slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, in coupling the invention, the resilient members constitute a closed circuit of circular elastic bands 34. Each of the three poles 33 a{grave over ()}33 b of each slide 20 a{grave over ()}20 b include a pulley 35 a{grave over ()}35 b such that the elastic bands 34 are engaged over every pulley 35 a{grave over ()}35 b of the two slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 12, in coupling the invention, the base 11 can be fixed to a handle bar 110. The top of the handle bar 110 includes a handle grip 111 parallel to the tracks 10. The handle grip 111 allows the user to practice major exercise movements stably.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, in coupling the invention, an elastic rope 14 a{grave over ()}14 b can be attached to each end of the tracks 10. The user can pull the ends of the elastic ropes 14 a{grave over ()}14 b, with one end in each hand, and slide to the left or to the right.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, in coupling the invention, each slide 20 a{grave over ()}20 b can include a stop 22 at its end such that the user's feet can press against it and stand stably on the slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b. The stop can include two brackets 220 and a handle grip 222 pivotally engaged in the holes 221 of the brackets 220. The handle grip 222 not only serves as a foot stop but also allows the user to practice muscle groups of arms and abdomen.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in coupling the invention, the tracks 10 can include holes 100 in which pins 13 are engaged. The pins 13 stop a slide 20 a{grave over ()}20 b such that it is in a state of being fixed on the tracks, while the other slide 20 a{grave over ()}20 b can freely slide on the tracks 10, suitable for practicing of the abdominal muscles.

[0034] Based on the technique and theory of the invention, the two slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b can simultaneously and freely be moved on the tracks 10. Both of the slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b may be moved from one end of the tracks 10 to the other. The sliding area is extended, allowing more variety of exercise movements. Furthermore, the two slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b are coupled to resilient members, providing synchronized resilience between the slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b. Better exercise effects can be achieved with the assistance of various exercise movements.

[0035] Referring next to FIGS. 10 and 11, in operations, the user can have each foot step on a slide 20 a{grave over ()}20 b and the legs be fully stretched laterally or frontally, with the front of the body being parallel to the tracks 10 and the legs being fully stretched frontally; another way is to move the two slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b from one end of the tracks 10 to the other as in sliding on a skating board. In operations, the two slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b are moved either toward or away from each other. Due to the resilient members between the two slides 20 a{grave over ()}20 b, the user can slide rhythmically, practicing better exercise functions and adding more fun.

[0036] Referring next to FIGS. 7 and 8, in operations, pins 13 can be engaged on the tracks 10 to stop a slide 20 a{grave over ()}20 b such that it is in a fixed state. The users can kneel on a slide 20 a or 20 b and hold the handle grip 222 of the other slide 20 b or 20 a such that the body can be stretched to practice muscle groups of the abdomen.

[0037] Besides, in operations, the hands can respectively hold the handle grip 222 of a slide 20 a{grave over ()}20 b. Then the hands can swing toward or away from each other to practice muscle groups of the chest and arms.

[0038] Thus the two slides of the invention include three poles arranged in the shape of a triangle. The elastic bands engaged over the three poles are extended in length, increasing their stretching modes and allowing the user to practice major exercise movements more flexibly. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise device comprising two tracks disposed on a base, said tracks including grooves, two slides being engaged on said tracks, said slides are coupled to rollers, said rollers being engaged in said grooves of said tracks, said slides are connected by elastic bands, each of said slides includes three poles arranged in the shape of a triangle and at least two of said poles are pivotally mounted on pulley, and said elastic bands are engaged over the pulleys of said poles of each of said slides.
 2. An exercise device according to claim 1, wherein a pairs of parallel tracks are engaged on said base, each of said tracks includes a groove, and each side of said slides includes rollers engaged in each of said grooves.
 3. An exercise device according to claim 1, wherein said resilient members are two elastic bands, each end of said elastic bands includes a hooking ring, each of said slides includes three poles and two of which are fixed to pulleys, said hooking ring at both ends of said elastic. bands are engaged on said poles of said slide, each said elastic band is engaged over one of said pulleys of said slides providing synchronized resilience between said slides.
 4. An exercise device according to claim 1, wherein said resilient members constitute a closed circuit of circular elastic bands, each of said slides includes three poles are pivotally mounted on pulleys, said elastic bands are engaged over every pulley of said slides.
 5. An exercise device according to claim 1, wherein said base is fixed with a handle bar, the top of said handle bar includes a handle grip parallel to said tracks, said handle grip allows the user to practice major exercise movements stably.
 6. An exercise device according to claim 1, wherein elastic ropes attached to each end of said tracks.
 7. An exercise device according to claim 1, wherein each of said slides includes a stop at its end such that the user's feet can press against it and stand stably on said slides.
 8. An exercise device according to claim 7, wherein said stop includes two brackets and a hand grip pivotally engaged in the holes of said brackets, said handle grip not only serves as a foot stop but also allows the users to practice various kinds of exercises.
 9. An exercise device according to claim 1, wherein said tracks include holes in which pins are engaged to stop one of said slides, in a state of being fixed on said tracks, while the other can be freely moved on said tracks, providing abdominal exercises. 